Remote drug injection device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is for a remote drug injection device which is suitable for use with a standard hypodermic syringe. The device has a tube which has a front rim and rear rim and a tube axis. The tube has a syringe section having a longitudinal syringe engaging passage configured to grippably engage the syringe. The tube has a plunger section having a plunger passage with a cross section configured to accommodate the plunger. The tube has a rear section having a rear passage. The three tube passages are arranged so that their axis forms the tube axis. A syringe insertion passage passing through the syringe section of the tube is provided. The syringe insertion passage has an axis which intersects the tube axis. A bottom syringe passage opening extends form the front rim of the tube and joins the syringe insertion passage. Similarly, a top syringe passage opening is provided from the syringe insertion passage and extends to the plunger section. The plunger section has a plunger section opening which joins the top opening. A shaft is provided which slidably engages the rear passage of the tube.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a remote drug injecting device foradministrating drugs to an animal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The advent of the wildlife rabies epidemic in the East has severelytaxed law enforcement and animal control departments from Florida to NewHampshire. The problem has recently become such a concern that an "800"phone number has been established in at least one state to provideinformation to the public by answering questions on rabies relatedproblems.

If a person is bitten by an animal and the animal is rabid, a postexposure vaccine must be given to avoid the fatal disease in humans.Since the treatment is expensive, painful and possibly life threateningto someone with other preexisting medical conditions, it is imperativethat the animal suspected of carrying the virus be tested for the rabiesvirus. The brain of a potentially infected animal can be tested for therabies virus if the animal is captured. Presently, the animals arefrequently captured by shooting. Shooting, however, may be construed asan inhumane method of euthanizing animals and in many situations mayendanger bystanders. Shooting, furthermore, can destroy the brain whichis used for testing for infection with the rabies virus. Injection ofthe animals offers a more humane method of euthanizing the animal andprovides a method of euthanizing which can be practiced withoutendangering bystanders.

There are several devices currently available for remotely injectinganimals with solutions to inoculate, medicate or euthanize animals. Theinjection solutions will hereafter be referred to as drugs irrespectiveof their functions. These injection devices have been developedprimarily for use by the veterinarian community. These injection devicesare expensive, complex in design and can be cumbersome to load in thefield. These limitations make the devices currently available ill-suitedfor use by the law enforcement officers or animal control officers whoare responsible for capturing potentially rabid animals or forconservation officers who may wish to sedate an animal for observation.

One of the early remote animal injecting devices is described in U.S.Pat. No. 3,494,358 which discloses a design developed for veterinarians.The device uses a standard syringe held in place with multiple clips andhas a complex triggering mechanism which must be cocked before thedevice is ready for service. The complexity of the device makes loadingthe device difficult. Furthermore, the complexity of the device makes itunreliable in field conditions where the injection device may be storedin hostile environments such as the back of an open truck. Additionally,the loading and removal of the syringe in the injection device isdifficult.

More recent patents teach somewhat simpler injection devices. U.S. Pat.No. 3,780,734 has simplified the injection device, however, the syringemust be loaded in a canister before it can be used. Thus, a setup timeis required before the device can be used. U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,007teaches another injection device which suffers from a similar problem asthat of the '734 patent since the syringe is loaded into a two-partcanister.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,162 discloses a remote drug injection device havinga syringe barrel which is placed in a metal sheath to provide stabilityand strength to the barrel. The standard plunger designed for thesyringe barrel is replaced by a specially manufactured pole plunger,which is a pole having one end contoured to form a plunger. Since thesyringe barrel is maintained in the metal sheath by friction, insertionand removal of the syringe can be difficult. If the metal sheath is tooloose, it will not adequately grip the syringe while in use. If thesheath is too tight, it may be difficult to remove the syringe barreland needle from the sheath. This becomes a particular concern when theanimal the device has been used on is suspected of having an infectiousdisease and prolonged contact with the used syringe with the possibilityof a needle puncture could endanger the person injecting the animal.

One of the injection devices which is currently available through CarlJackson of Colebrook, N.H. is a device which employs many of theelements of the injection device of the '162 patent but eliminates themetal sheath by using the injection barrel and plunger such as taught inU.S. Pat. No. 3,209,695. The '695 patent discloses an injectionprojectile which can be fired at the animal. Once the needle penetratesthe animal, a small explosive charge is detonated which actuates theplunger injecting the drug into the animal. Loading the drug injectiondevice of the '695 patent is difficult since the appropriate dosage mustbe measured and poured into the barrel. In the injection devicecurrently sold by Carl Jackson, the chamber of the '695 patent replacesthe syringe of the '162 patent and the explosive charge of the '695patent has been replaced by a plunger pole, similar to the pole taughtby the '162 patent. The resulting device is difficult to load since thefront cap with the needle attached to it has to be unscrewed and thedrug poured into the barrel. Unscrewing the endcap can be particularlydifficult in field conditions if dirt or corrosion gets into thethreads.

Thus, there is a need for a simple injection device for remote druginjection of animals which can be quickly loaded with a syringe having astandard barrel and plunger. The injection device also needs to besufficiently simple to avoid damage to its mechanism under theconditions of field use.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a simple injection device whichemploys a standard syringe for remotely administering drugs to animals.

Another object of the invention is to provide a remote drug injectiondevice which has few parts and can be readily manufactured.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a remote druginjection device which is easy to load.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a remote druginjection device where contact with the drug can be avoided.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a remote druginjection device where the drug can be predispensed in a sealed syringe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a remote drug injectiondevice which is easy to unload.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a remote druginjection device which minimizes the risk to the party using theinjection device of needle punctures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a remote drug injectiondevice which can be fabricated from materials not subject to corrosionallowing the injection device to be stored in field conditions forextended periods without risk of malfunction due to rust or corrosion.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a remote druginjection device which is simple and reliable to operate.

These and other objects of the invention will be obvious in view of thefollowing description, drawings and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device for remotely administrating adrug to an animal. The device of the present invention employs astandard hypodermic syringe having a barrel with a chamber therein. Thebarrel attaches to a needle and a plunger slidably engages the chamberof the barrel. The remote drug injection device, in an elementary form,has a tube which terminates in a front rim and a rear rim. The tube hasthree sections; a syringe section, a plunger section and a rear section.The syringe section of the tube has a longitudinal syringe engagingpassage which is configured to grippably engage the syringe.

The plunger section of the tube adjoins the syringe section. The plungersection has a plunger passage therein axially aligned with thelongitudinal syringe engaging passage. The plunger passage has a crosssection of sufficient size to accommodate the plunger of the syringe.The plunger passage is designed to accommodate the plunger when theplunger is extended and the chamber of the syringe contains the drug forinjection.

The rear section adjoins the plunger section and has a rear sectionpassage which is axially aligned with the longitudinal syringe engagingpassage and the plunger passage so that a common tube axis exists forthe three sections of the tube.

A syringe insertion passage is provided in the tube which traverses thelongitudinal syringe engaging passage of the syringe section of thetube. The syringe insertion passage has a central axis which intersectsthe tube axis.

The tube is provided with multiple openings to allow the syringe to berotated between the syringe insertion passage and the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage. The combination of the multiple openings andthe multiple passages permits insertion and removal of the syringe andplunger without necessitating an openable syringe holder.

A bottom syringe passage opening is provided which intersects the frontrim of the tube and extends into the syringe insertion passage.Similarly, a top syringe passage opening is provided which isdiametrically opposed and offset with respect to the bottom syringepassage opening and extends from the syringe insertion passage to theplunger section where it joins a plunger section opening which isprovided in the plunger section. Having the passages so positionedallows the syringe barrel having the needle attached thereto and theplunger extending therefrom to be rotated from the syringe insertionpassage to the longitudinal syringe engaging passage where the syringebarrel and plunger are aligned with the tube axis.

The top syringe passage opening and the bottom syringe passage openinghave a width W and the barrel of the syringe has a diameter D. When thewidth W of the top and/or bottom syringe passage openings are slightlyless than the diameter D of the barrel of the syringe, the barrel can berotated between the syringe insertion passage and the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage by the elastic deformation of either the tubeor the syringe or by a combination thereof. Maintaining the width W ofthe top and/or bottom syringe passage openings less than the diameter Dof the barrel of the syringe will assure that the syringe will begripped by the syringe section and will not be unintentionallydisengaged.

The elastic deformation needed to move the syringe between the centralaxis of the syringe insertion passage and the tube axis will be, inpart, a function of the width W of the syringe passage openings in thesyringe section of the tube. When the openings have a width W and thesyringe barrel has a diameter D, the diameter D should be larger than Wand when a flexible plastic syringe is used and the tube is considerablymore rigid than the syringe, it is preferred that W be close to D.Maintaining this ratio assures that the syringe can be readily movedbetween the syringe insertion passage and the longitudinal syringeengaging passage.

While it is generally preferred to have the width W of the syringepassage openings in the tube less than the diameter D of the barrel ofthe syringe, there are occasions depending upon the rigidity of thebarrel of the syringe where maintaining W less than D will require theapplication of an excessive force to pass the barrel of the syringe inthe syringe passage openings, making it difficult to load and unload thetube with the syringe. If the barrel of the syringe is rigid, such asthat of a glass barrel, the width W of the syringe passage openings aremaintained at the same diameter D of the barrel of the syringe tofacilitate passing the barrel of the syringe through the syringe passageopenings.

Another advantage of an embodiment where the width W of the syringepassage openings is the same as the diameter D of the barrel is that itis particularly well suited for fabrication by injection molding. Havingthe width W of the syringe passage openings the same as the diameter Dof the barrel provides syringe passages which avoid re-entrant anglesand allow the tube to be injection molded using a simple two part mold.

For injection molded tubes and other tubes where the width W of theopenings are the same as the diameter D of the barrel, the tube has alongitudinal syringe engaging passage having a front longitudinalsyringe engaging cavity and a rear longitudinal syringe engaging cavity.An inter-cavity region remains between the front longitudinal syringeengaging cavity and the rear longitudinal syringe engaging cavity. Alongitudinal cylindrical passage lying on the axis of the tube passesthrough the inter-cavity region. The longitudinal cylindrical passage incombination with the front longitudinal syringe engaging cavity and therear longitudinal syringe engaging cavity form the longitudinal syringeengaging passage for containment of the syringe. A cylindrical insertionpassage, having an axis which intersects the tube axis, also passesthough the inter-cavity region and intersects the front longitudinalsyringe engaging cavity and the rear longitudinal syringe engagingcavity. The cylindrical insertion passage provides the syringe insertionpassage. Because of the curvature of the two intersecting cylindricalpassages, two pairs of protrusions will result at the intersection ofthe two cylindrical passages. These pyramidal-shaped protrusions serveto maintain the syringe in the longitudinal syringe engaging passage orthe syringe insertion passage. In this embodiment, in which the sidewalls have no re-entrant angles, there is no gripping action provided bythe front longitudinal syringe engaging cavity. Since the walls of thecavities will not provide gripping support to the syringe, theprotrusions serve to contain the syringe in the longitudinal syringeengaging passage. These protrusions serve to maintain the syringe in thelongitudinal syringe engaging passage and the syringe insertion passage.Furthermore, when rotating the syringe from the syringe insertionpassage to the longitudinal syringe engaging passage the protrusionswill allow the syringe to snap from one passage to the other.

It is preferred that a finger port be provided to better distribute theforce needed to rotate the syringe between the tube axis and the centralaxis of the syringe insertion passage. The finger port, if positioneddiametrically opposed to the bottom syringe passage opening and directlyabove the same allows pressure to be applied to the syringe barrel toassist in moving the syringe from the longitudinal syringe engagingpassage to the syringe insertion passage. This distribution of the forcebecomes more important as the size difference between the width W andbarrel diameter D increases or where the protrusions between theintersecting cylindrical passages forming part of the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage and the syringe insertion passage are large.

A shaft is provided which slidably engages the rear section passage ofthe tube and is axially aligned with the plunger when the syringe isengaged by the longitudinal syringe engaging passage, Preferably, meansfor retaining the shaft in the rear section passage are provided. Suchmeans can be provided by an O-ring seated in a circumferential groove inthe shaft or resiliently mounted barbs which protrude from the shaft.

As the distance from the animal increases, it is preferable that thesyringe section of the tube be tapered such that the front rim providesan area of minimum cross section. This taper allows the needle to piercethe animal at a more oblique angle since interference from the tube willbe reduced.

To further stabilize the needle to avoid a bending moment in thejunction between the needle and the barrel when the needle is beinginserted into the animal, a partition is preferably provided which ismounted in the longitudinal syringe engaging passage. The partition ispositioned such that it will be in close proximity to the needle/barreljunction when the hypodermic syringe is engaged in the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage. A slot is provided in the partition whichextends downward from the tube axis to the bottom syringe passageopening.

Standard hypodermic syringes designed for hand use usually have a flangefor gripping the barrel with the user's fingers when depressing theplunger with the thumb. When a flange is included as part of thesyringe, a flange engaging slot is provided to accommodate the flange.The flange engaging slot which engages the flange further stabilizes thesyringe when the plunger is being advanced by the shaft.

For injection devices where the shaft is long, for example greater thanabout three feet, it is further preferred that the tube handle beprovided to the tube for positioning the needle with respect to theanimal to be injected. When a tube handle is employed, the shaft is nolonger used to position the tube, and the function of the shaft islimited to providing the motivating force for advancing the plunger.When the tube handle is employed, the handle is preferably coaxial withthe tube axis and it is secured to the tube at one end. The shaftresides in the tube handle and extends beyond it for a distancesufficient to assure that the plunger can be fully depressed to ejectthe drug contained in the barrel of the syringe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are isometric views of one embodiment of a remote druginjecting device of the present invention. This embodiment employs astandard hypodermic syringe with a syringe barrel and a plunger. Thedevice has a tube having a syringe section, a plunger section and a rearsection. The syringe is shown in a longitudinal syringe engaging passageof the tube. A shaft is slidably engaged with a rear section passage ofthe tube. FIG. 1 shows a plunger of the syringe in a loaded positionwhere the plunger fully occupies the plunger section. FIG. 2 shows thesyringe after it has been purged of the drug, in which case the shafthas been moved forward. FIG. 3 shows the syringe after the drug has beenpurged and the shaft has been moved away from the plunger so that thesyringe can be removed from the tube.

FIG. 4 is a view of the section 4--4 of FIG. 1 shown with the syringepositioned in a longitudinal syringe engaging passage.

FIG. 5 is the view of FIG. 4 where the syringe is shown in a syringeinsertion passage prior to being rotated into the longitudinal syringeengaging passage.

FIG. 6 is an enlargement of the circled area of FIG. 5 which shows anO-ring used to maintain the shaft in the rear section passage and acircumferential O-ring groove on the shaft.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the injection device of FIGS. 1 through 3without a syringe positioned in the device. FIG. 7 shows a bottomopening provided in the tube which cooperates with a top opening shownin FIG. 8 to permit transfer of a syringe between the syringe insertionpassage and the longitudinal syringe engaging passage.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the injection device of FIGS. 1 through 3,without the syringe positioned in the device. A finger port is providedwhich allows a force to be applied to the syringe to assist intransferring the syringe from the longitudinal syringe engaging passageto the syringe insertion passage.

FIG. 9 is a similar view to FIGS. 4 and 5 and illustrates an embodimentof the present invention. In this embodiment, the longitudinal syringeengaging passage has three sections, a front longitudinal syringeengaging cavity and a rear longitudinal syringe engaging cavity whichare connected by a longitudinal cylindrical passage which passes throughan inter-cavity region.

FIG. 10 is a partial side view in cross-section of a tube of anotherembodiment of the present invention which has a shaft which employsbarbs as a means for retaining the shaft in the rear section passage ofthe tube.

FIG. 11 shows a front view of another embodiment of the remote druginjecting device of the present invention. In this embodiment, apartition is provided in the longitudinal syringe engaging passage. Thepartition is positioned to engage the needle at a hub which serves asthe needle/barrel junction thereby reducing the bending moments on theneedle which can result from the animal moving as it is being injected.

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of FIG. 11 which shows the partitionengaged with the hub of the needle minimizing the moment on theneedle/barrel junction.

FIG. 13 is a section of a side view of a front portion of a tube whichforms part of another embodiment of the injection device of the presentinvention. This embodiment employs a longitudinal syringe engagingpassage plug to stabilize the needle from bending moments as well as toprovide a protective cover for the needle. The plug engages the frontrim of the tube and serves three functions: it protects the needle fromthe elements, dirt, dust and the like; it avoids accidental puncture ofthe user by the device; and it serves to stabilize the needle againstbending moments resulting from the movement of the animal while it isbeing injected. FIG. 13 shows the plug in the safety position. Theprotective plug is maintained in the position as shown prior to readyingthe injection device for injecting an animal.

FIG. 14 is a section 14--14 of FIG. 13 illustrating the relativepositions of the needle, the longitudinal syringe engaging passage plugand its relationship to the longitudinal syringe engaging passage.

FIG. 15 is a similar view to the view of FIG. 13 except the protectiveplug has been moved to a ready position where the protective plugcontacts the syringe and the needle is exposed. A supporting pocketsurrounds the hub of the needle which serves as the needle/barreljunction reducing the moment at the needle/barrel junction resultingfrom movement of the animal as it is being injected.

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of an embodiment which employs, aprotective clip to further stabilize the needle of the syringe. The viewshows the front of the tube with the bottom facing up. The clip isadjustable and provides two functions. It protects the needle frombending moments and serves to protect the user from accidental punctureby the needle. In this view, the clip is in a retracted position,closest to the front rim of the tube.

FIG. 17 is similar to the view of FIG. 16; however, in this view, theprotective clip is shown at maximum extension. The clip also has cliplugs which prevent the clip from becoming disengaged from the tube.

FIG. 18 is an enlargement of the region circled in FIG. 17 which bestshows the clip lugs engaging a channel notch on the sidewall of thetube.

FIG. 19 is an isometric rear view of the section 19--19 of FIG. 17,which shows a needle point guide which attaches to the clip and assuresregistry of the needle with a needle passage through the clip.

FIG. 20 is another embodiment of the invention which employs a tubesimilar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. Thisembodiment differs in part from the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1through 3 in that a hollow handle is provided which attaches to thetube. The hollow handle is employed to position the tube with respect tothe animal. A shaft, which is axially aligned with the hollow tubularhandle, is provided to depress the plunger and inject the animal.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING THE INVENTION INTO PRACTICE

FIGS. 1 through 3 represent one embodiment of a remote drug injectiondevice 10 of the present invention. The remote drug injection device 10employs a standard hypodermic syringe 12. The syringe 12 has a barrel 14having a chamber 16. The barrel 14 attaches to a needle 18 whichcommunicates with the chamber 16 of the barrel 14 of the syringe 12. Aplunger 20 is provided which has a thumb pad 21. The plunger 20 slidablyengages the chamber 16 of the barrel 14. The remote drug injectiondevice 10 has a tube 22 which has a front rim 24 and a rear rim 26. Thetube 22 has three sections labeled in FIG. 2. The sections are: asyringe section 28, a plunger section 30 and a rear section 32. FIGS. 1through 3 illustrate different stages of readiness of the remote druginjection device 10. FIG. 1 illustrates the syringe 12 in the tube 22with the syringe 12 loaded with a drug to be injected. The plunger 20extends into the plunger section 30 and is engaged by a shaft 33. FIG. 2illustrates the remote drug injection device 10 after an animal has beeninjected and the syringe 12 is spent. In this state of readiness, theshaft 33 has extended into the plunger section 30 and advanced theplunger 20 into the chamber 16. FIG. 3 illustrates the remote druginjection device 10 after injection of an animal where the shaft 33 hasbeen withdrawn from the plunger section 30 to provide access to removethe spent syringe 12.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section 4--4 of FIG. 1 illustrating additionaldetails of this embodiment of the invention. The syringe section 28 ofthe tube 22 has a longitudinal syringe engaging passage 34 configured togrippably engage the barrel 14 of the standard hypodermic syringe 12.The plunger section 30, which adjoins the syringe section 28, has aplunger passage 35 with a cross section sufficient to accommodate theplunger 20 and the thumb pad 21.

The tube 22 terminates in the rear section 32 having a rear sectionpassage 36 contained therein. The longitudinal syringe engaging passage34, the plunger passage 35 and the rear section passage 36 have a commonaxis forming a tube axis 40. For standard syringes designed for handuse, such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, a flange 42 is providedfor gripping with the fingers, stabilizing the syringe 12 as the plunger20 is depressed by the thumb which engages the thumb pad 21. A flangeengaging slot 44 is provided in the tube 22 to accommodate the flange42. The flange engaging slot 44, in combination with the gripping actionof the longitudinal syringe engaging passage 34, maintains the syringe12 fixed in the tube 22 as the shaft 33 is advanced causing the drug tobe injected into the animal.

The syringe section 28 of the tube 22, in addition to having thelongitudinal syringe engaging passage 34, has a syringe insertionpassage 46 which traverses the tube 22 and intersects the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage 34. The syringe insertion passage 46 has acentral axis 48 which intersects the tube axis 40.

FIG. 5 shows the syringe 12 positioned in the syringe insertion passage46. To permit rotation of the syringe 12 between the syringe insertionpassage 46 and the longitudinal syringe engaging passage 34, multipleopenings are provided in the tube 22. These openings allow the barrel 14to be swung into the longitudinal syringe engaging passage 34 andsimultaneously allow the plunger 20 to be swung into the plunger passage35. This repositioning of the syringe 12 can be accomplished withoutopening the tube 22, thus facilitating convenient field loading of theremote drug injection device 10.

A bottom syringe passage opening 56 (numbered in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7) isprovided which extends from the front rim 24 of the tube 22 to thesyringe insertion passage 46. The bottom syringe passage opening 56allows the needle 18 and front portion of the syringe 12 to be rotatedbetween the syringe insertion passage 46 and the longitudinal syringeengaging passage 34. Similarly, a top syringe passage opening 58(numbered in FIGS. 4 and 8), is provided which is diametrically opposedand offset with respect to the bottom syringe passage opening 56. Thetop syringe passage opening 58 extends from the syringe insertionpassage 46 into the plunger section 30 where the top syringe passageopening 58 joins a plunger section opening 60 (best shown in FIG. 8).The top syringe passage opening 58 allows the rear portion of the barrel14 to be rotated between the syringe insertion passage 46 and thelongitudinal syringe engaging passage 34. The plunger section opening 60allows the extended plunger 20 and the thumb pad 21 to swing into theplunger passage 35 when the barrel 14 of the syringe 12 swings into thelongitudinal syringe engaging passage 34. As can be seen, having theopenings 56, 58, and 60 so located allows the syringe barrel 14 and theplunger 20 with the thumb pad 21 to be rotated from the syringeinsertion passage 46 to the longitudinal syringe engaging passage 34 andthe plunger passage 34 and the plunger passage 35 without requiring thetube 22 to be openable.

The bottom syringe passage opening 56 and the top syringe passageopening 58 preferably both have a width W (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) whichis slightly less than the diameter D of the syringe barrel 14 (shown inFIG. 5). Although the width W of these passage openings (56 and 58) isslightly less than the diameter D of the barrel 14, the barrel 14 can berotated between the syringe insertion passage 46 and the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage 34 by elastic deformation of either the tube22, the syringe barrel 14 or a combination thereof. As the differencebetween W and D increases or, alternatively, the elastic modulus of thetube 22 and the barrel 14 are both high, a finger port 62 allowsadditional force to be applied to the syringe 12 to aid in the transferof the syringe 12 from the longitudinal syringe engaging passage 34 tothe syringe insertion passage 46. The finger port 62 allows access tothe barrel 14 so that the finger pressure on the barrel 14 can be usedto assist in raising the barrel 14 from the longitudinal syringeengaging passage 34 to the syringe insertion passage 46, an actionrequired prior to disengaging a spent syringe 12 from the tube 22.

Referring again to FIG. 5, it is further preferred that the central axis48 of the syringe insertion passage 46 be maintained at an angle Bbetween about 30° and 40° with respect to the tube axis 40. Maintainingβ within this range assures a sufficient offset is maintained betweenthe sidewalls of the syringe insertion passage 46 and the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage 34 to limit the discontinuity which results inthe surface which is generated by the intersection of the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage 34 and the syringe insertion passage 46.Limiting the size of this discontinuity assures the barrel 14 of thesyringe 12 can be snapped into and out of the longitudinal syringeengaging passage 34 without undue force. Maintaining the angle B in therange of 30° to 40° also assists in the visual alignment of the flange42 with respect to the flange engaging slot 44 so that they can beprealigned such that as the barrel 14 is snapped into the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage 34 the flange 42 will slide into the flangeengaging slot 44.

The angular range for which the needle 18 will penetrate an animalsuccessfully will increase if the cross section of the front rim 24 ofthe tube 22 is minimized. In embodiments used in all the figures, thesidewall of the tube 22 is tapered so that its thickness decreases asthe sidewall of the tube 22 approaches the front rim 24 resulting in areduced cross section of the front rim 24 of the tube 22. In thispreferred configuration, for a given extension of the needle 18 beyondthe front rim 24 of the tube 22, the range of angular penetration of theneedle 18 will increase.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention whichemploys the tube 22 which is well suited for fabrication by injectionmolding. The longitudinal syringe engaging passage 34 is composed of afront longitudinal syringe engaging cavity 66 and a rear longitudinalsyringe engaging cavity 67. An inter-cavity region 68 is positionedbetween the front longitudinal syringe engaging cavity 66 and the rearlongitudinal syringe engaging cavity 67. A longitudinal cylindricalpassage 69 passes through the inter-cavity region 68 and lies on thetube axis 40 of the tube 22. The longitudinal cylindrical passage 69 incombination with the front longitudinal syringe engaging cavity 66 andthe rear longitudinal syringe engaging cavity 67, forms the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage 34 for containment of the syringe 12. Acylindrical insertion passage 70 also passes through the inter-cavityregion 68, intersecting the front longitudinal syringe engaging cavity66 and the rear longitudinal syringe engaging cavity 67. The cylindricalinsertion passage 70 has the central axis 48 which intersects the tubeaxis 40 and serves as the syringe insertion passage 46. Because of thecurvature of the two intersecting cylindrical passages (69 and 70),their intersection generates two pairs of protrusions which extend intothe intersection of the two cylindrical passages (69 and 70). An upperpair of protrusions 71 form pyramidal shaped areas which are terminatedby the rear longitudinal syringe engaging cavity 67. Similarly, a lowerpair of protrusions 72 form pyramidal shaped areas which are terminatedby the front longitudinal syringe engaging cavity 66.

When the cavities 66 and 67 are free of re-entrant angles, the design iswell suited for injection molding of the tube 22. Since no re-entrantangles exist, there is no gripping action provided by the walls of thefront longitudinal syringe engaging cavity 66 or the rear longitudinalsyringe engaging cavity 67. Since the walls of the cavities (66 and 67)will not provide gripping support to the syringe 12, the protrusions (71and 72) serve to contain the syringe in the longitudinal syringeengaging passage 34. These protrusions (71 and 72) serve to lock thesyringe 12 in the longitudinal syringe engaging passage 34 and thesyringe insertion passage 46. Furthermore, when rotating the barrel 14from the longitudinal syringe engaging passage 34 to the syringeinsertion passage 46, the protrusions (71 and 72) will allow the syringe12 to snap from one passage to the other.

Turning attention again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the shaft 33 which slidablyengages the rear section passage 36 employs an O-ring 74, as a means formaintaining the shaft 33 in the plunger passage 35. The O-ring 74engages a circumferential O-ring groove 75, shown in FIG. 6, and ismaintained on the shaft 33 by the groove 75. The O-ring 74, in turn,serves as a stop to maintain the shaft 33 in the rear section passage 36of the tube 22.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative means for retaining the shaft 33 inthe rear section passage 36. In this embodiment, the shaft 33 isprovided with a shaft slot 76 which extends to a plunger engaging end 77of the shaft 33. The plunger engaging end 77 resides in and ismaintained in the plunger passage 35 by shaft barbs 78 which extendbeyond the periphery of the shaft 33 when the shaft slot 76 is open.When the plunger engaging end 77 is compressed such that the shaft slot76 closes, the shaft barbs 78 can pass through the rear section passage36 allowing the shaft 33 to be removed from the tube 22.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another embodiment of the invention where theneedle 18 of the syringe 12 is stabilized with respect to the barrel 14to reduce the likelihood of a fracture therebetween caused by bendingmoments resulting from the animal moving after the needle 18 has beeninserted. A partition 80 is provided, which attaches to the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage 34 and is substantially normal to the tube axis40. The partition 80 has a slot 82 into which the needle 18 slides asthe barrel 14 is rotated from the syringe insertion passage 46 (bestshown in FIG. 5) to the longitudinal syringe engaging passage 34. Theneedle 18 has a needle hub 84. The slot 82 is configured to engage theneedle hub 84 when the syringe 12 is maintained in the longitudinalsyringe engaging passage 34. Having the slot 82 so positioned andconfigured assures that maximum support will be given to the needle hub84 which forms the needle/barrel junction.

FIGS. 13 through 15 provide another embodiment offering an alternativemeans to stabilize the needle/barrel junction. In this embodiment, aplug 90 is provided which engages the front rim 24 of the tube 22.

The plug 90 has a blind passage 92 therein into which the needle 18 willfit when the plug 90 is partially engaged in the longitudinal syringeengaging passage 34. Having the plug 90 partially engaged as illustratedin FIG. 13 provides a cover for the needle 18 and protects the user fromaccidental puncture by the needle 18. The plug 90 has a pocket 94configured to engage the needle hub 84 when the plug 90 is fully engagedand brought into contact with the barrel 14. Referring to FIG. 15, theneedle 18 will extend beyond the plug 90 when the plug 90 is in contactwith the barrel 14.

FIGS. 16 through 19 illustrate another embodiment of a means forstabilizing the needle/barrel junction which will also provideprotection from accidental puncture of the user by the needle 18. Inthis embodiment, a clip 100 replaces the plug 90. The clip 100 can bebrought into close proximity to the front rim 24 of the tube 22 and willsubstantially increase the angle of entry of the needle 18 into theanimal. The clip 100 is configured with clip arms 101 which slidablyengage channels 102 in a sidewall 106 of the longitudinal syringeengaging passage 34. The clip 100 provides support to the needle 18 and,when positioned as shown in FIG. 16, exposes substantially more of theneedle 18 than the plug 90 does, thus providing a greater range in theangle of penetration. Substantial support for the needle 18 is providedby a needle guide tube 108 which supports the needle 18 between the clip100 and the syringe 12.

As shown in FIG. 17, the clip arms 101 attach to a clip front plate 109.The clip arms 101 engage the channels 102 and terminate in clip lugs 110which engage a channel notches 112. The clip lugs 110 prevent the clip100 from being disengaged from the tube 22. Insertion or removal of theclip 100 is accomplished by squeezing the clip arms 101 together andengaging or disengaging the clip lugs 110 from the channel notches 112.

FIG. 18 is an enlargement of the region circled in FIG. 17 which bestshows the clip lugs 110 engaging the channel notch 112 on the sidewall106 of the tube 22. It should be appreciated that while the clip lugs110 are shown protruding below the clip arms 101, they could also bepositioned above or laterally from the clip arms 101.

In a this embodiment, the guide tube 108 is mounted on the clip frontplate 109 of the clip 100 as shown in FIG. 19. Preferably, the guidetube 108 has its free end 113 flared to facilitate insertion of theneedle 18 into the guide tube 108.

FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention which isparticularly well suited for situations where a substantial distancebetween the user and the animal (e.g. three feet or more) is required.When a substantial distance from the animal being injected ismaintained, it is preferred not to use the shaft 33 to position the tube22. At extended distances, it is possible to strike a glancing blow whentrying to inject the animal which could advance the plunger 20 withouthaving the needle 18 properly embedded in the animal. When the distancefrom the animal will be substantial, it is preferred to provide aseparate handle which is affixed to the tube 22. This allows thefunction of positioning the tube 22 and inserting of the needle 18 to beseparately controlled from the function of injecting the animal with thedrug. The embodiment of FIG. 20 employs a hollow tube handle 114 whichis coupled to the tube 22 by a handle coupling 116. A coupling such as athreaded or bayonet coupling can be used.

The handle 114 allows the needle 18 to be inserted into the animal priorto the injection of the animal with the drug while the shaft 33 iscarried in a central passage 118 in the handle 114. The shaft 33, whichextends beyond the handle 114, is advanced to administer the drug. Oncethe needle 18 has punctured the animal, the shaft 33 should have alength L sufficient to allow the shaft 33 to be advanced a sufficientdistance to fully administer the drug contained in the syringe 12.

A shaft engaging coupling 120 which employs fastening means such asthreads or bayonet locks is provided to attach a shaft extender 120 toprovide shafts 33 of varying length to the tube 22. The selection of theshaft extender 122 is made so as to assure the shaft 33 will extendbeyond the handle 114.

While the present invention has been described in terms of preferredembodiments, it should be understood that substitutions and changes maybe made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

What I claim is:
 1. A remote drug injecting device for remotelyadministering a drug to an animal which can employ a standard hypodermicsyringe having a barrel and a plunger which slidably engages the barrel,comprising:a tube having a front rim, a rear rim and a tube axis, saidtube having,a syringe section having a longitudinal cylindrical syringeengaging passage configured to grippably engage the syringe, a plungersection having a plunger passage having a cross section configured toaccommodate the plunger, and a rear section having a rear passage,saidlongitudinal cylindrical syringe engaging passage, said plunger passage,and said rear passage lying on said tube axis; a cylindrical syringeinsertion passage passing through said syringe section of said tube,said cylindrical syringe insertion passage having a central axis whichintersects said tube axis providing an intersection between saidlongitudinal cylindrical syringe engaging passing and said cylindricalsyringe insertion passage, said cylindrical syringe insertion passagebeing contoured to be slidably engaged by the syringe and saidintersection providing two paired protrusions which extend into saidintersection; a bottom syringe passage opening extending from said frontrim of said tube and joining said cylindrical syringe insertion passage;a top syringe passage opening extending from said cylindrical syringeinsertion passage into said plunger section; a plunger section openingcontinuing said top syringe passage opening into said plunger section;and a shaft slidably engaging said rear passage of said tube.
 2. Theremote drug injection device of claim 1 further comprising:means formaintaining said shaft in said rear section passage.
 3. The remote druginjection device of claim 2 wherein said syringe section is tapered suchthat said front rim provides a section of minimum cross section.
 4. Theremote drug injection device of claim 3 further comprising:a finger portin said syringe section of said tube, said finger port beingdiametrically opposed to said tube bottom opening.
 5. The remote druginjection device of claim 4 further comprising:a handle attached to saidtube and extending away from said front rim.
 6. The remote druginjecting device of claim 5 wherein said handle is cylindrical and iscoaxial with said tube.
 7. The remote drug injecting device of claim 2wherein said means for maintaining said shaft in said rear passagefurther comprises:an O-ring which attaches to said shaft.
 8. The remotedrug injecting device of claim 2 wherein said means for maintaining saidshaft in said rear passage further comprises:resiliently mounted barbswhich protrude beyond said shaft.
 9. A remote drug injecting device forremotely administering a drug to an animal which can employ a standardhypodermic syringe having a barrel and a plunger which slidably engagesthe barrel, a needle attached to the syringe providing a needle/barreljunction, the remote drug injecting device comprising:a tube having afront rim, a rear rim and a tube axis, said tube having,a syringesection tapered such that said front rim provides a section of minimumcross section, said syringe section having a longitudinal cylindricalsyringe engaging passage configured to grippably engage the syringe, aplunger section having a plunger passage having a cross sectionconfigured to accommodate the plunger, and a rear section having a rearpassage,said longitudinal cylindrical syringe engaging passage and saidplunger passage, and said rear passage lying on said tube axis; acylindrical syringe insertion passage passing through said syringesection of said tube, said cylindrical syringe insertion passage havinga central axis which intersects said tube axis providing an intersectionbetween said longitudinal cylindrical syringe engaging passage and saidcylindrical syringe insertion passage, said cylindrical syringeinsertion passage being contoured to be slidably engaged by the syringeand said intersection providing two pairs protrusion which extend intosaid intersection; a bottom syringe passage opening extending from saidfront rim of said tube and joining said cylindrical syringe insertionpassage; a top syringe passage opening extending from said cylindricalsyringe insertion passage into said plunger section; a plunger sectionopening continuing said top syringe passage opening into said plungersection; a shaft slidably engaging said rear passage of said tube; meansfor maintaining said shaft in said rear section; and means to stabilizethe needle/barrel junction.
 10. The remote drug injection device ofclaim 9 where said means to stabilize the needle/barrel junction furthercomprises:a partition attaching to said longitudinal syringe engagingpassage and substantially normal to said tube axis; and a slot in saidpartition into which the needle can be rotated,said partition and saidslot being so positioned such that the needle/barrel junction lies insaid slot when the syringe lies in said longitudinal syringe engagingpassage.
 11. The remote drug injection device of claim 9 wherein saidmeans to stabilize the needle/barrel junction further comprises:a clipwhich slidably engages said tube, said clip having a passagetherethrough of the needle.
 12. A remote drug injection device forremotely administering a drug to an animal which can employ a standardhypodermic syringe having a flange, a barrel and a plunger whichslidably engages the barrel, comprising:a tube having a front rim, arear rim and a tube axis, said tube having,a syringe section taperedsuch that said front rim provides a section of minimum cross section,said syringe section having a longitudinal cylindrical syringe engagingpassage configured to grippably engage the syringe, a plunger sectionhaving a plunger passage having a cross section configured toaccommodate the plunger, and a rear section having a rear passage,saidlongitudinal cylindrical syringe engaging passage and said plungerpassage, and said rear passage lying on said tube axis, and said tube isprovided with a flange engaging slot; a cylindrical syringe insertionpassage passing through said syringe section of said tube, saidcylindrical syringe insertion passage having a central axis whichintersects said tube axis providing an intersection between saidlongitudinal cylindrical syringe engaging passage and said cylindricalsyringe insertion passage, said cylindrical syringe insertion passagebeing contoured to be slidably engaged by the syringe and saidintersection providing two pairs protrusion which extend into saidintersection; a bottom syringe passage opening extending from said frontrim of said tube and joining said syringe insertion passage; a topsyringe passage opening extending from said cylindrical syringeinsertion passage into said plunger section; a plunger section openingcontinuing said top syringe passage opening into said plunger section; ashaft slidably engaging said rear passage of said tube; and means formaintaining said shaft in said rear section.
 13. The remote druginjection device of claim 12 further comprising:a handle attached tosaid tube and extending away from said front rim.
 14. The remote druginjection device of claim 12 further comprising:a handle attached tosaid tube and extending away from said front rim; and a handle couplingemployed to connect said tube to said handle.
 15. The device of claim 14wherein:said shaft has a shaft extender; and a shaft engaging couplingis provided to attach said shaft extender to said shaft.